Buying and managing music online is a reality and the
rights and content holders are making tons of money because of
it. If they
would have stuck to selling music "only" on cd's, yes, they
would be in
trouble, but that didn't happen and they are thriving.=20

=20

=20

Actually, this part is just not true. Although digital download formats
(and Guitar Hero) have become a huge share of the music industry's
revenue, it doesn't nearly make up for the extensive losses overall. I
think US business was up 4% last year (after seven or eight years of
steady percentage loss) but down significantly internationally.=20

=20

Then again, it's not true that the loss is entirely due to digital
theft. It's also because the world stopped buying $15 cds and started
purchasing one or two songs from each release for 99 cents. Also, as I
suggested about the threat to video before, sharing music among friends
has become a form of social and cultural engagement.=20

<p class=3DMsoNormal>&nbsp;Buying and managing music online is a reality =
and the<br>
rights and content holders are making tons of money because of it. If =
they<br>
would have stuck to selling music &quot;only&quot; on cd's, yes, they =
would be
in<br>
trouble, but that didn't happen and they are =
thriving.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p>

</blockquote>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal>Actually, this part is just not true. Although =
digital
download formats (and Guitar Hero) have become a huge share of the music
industry's revenue, it doesn't nearly make up for the extensive losses =
overall.
I think US business was up 4% last year (after seven or eight years of =
steady
percentage loss) but down significantly =
internationally.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal>Then again, it's not true that the loss
is&nbsp;entirely&nbsp;due to digital theft. It's also because the world =
stopped
buying $15 cds and started purchasing one or two songs from each release =
for 99
cents. Also, as I suggested about the threat to video before, sharing =
music
among friends has become a form of social and cultural =
engagement.&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p>

</div>

<div>

<p class=3DMsoNormal>Here are two decent articles that are relatively =
balanced:<o:p></o:p></p>